Harlen Wheatley in Toronto this week

[Kalessin]

This event was great fun, with no fewer than three bourbons making their Ontario debut (Blanton's Gold, Pappy 20 and Stagg), plus a few returning favorites. Mr. Wheatley had an enthusiastic audience.

Toronto is a pretty immature bourbon market. We're just getting into it here over the last few years, and hard core enthusiasts are still few and far between. Probably all six of us are on this board. But I think bourbon made a few new friends last night.

[...]

Oh, and here is some Pappy Porn for you all:
Attachment 13718

Lemme see here... six bourbon enthusiasts times about 14 rows of six glasses equals around 84 little pours...

"Oh no, you wine and beer guys, you don't WANT to taste this ROTGUT... it's AWFUL... here... we'll SAVE you from having to think about tasting it..."

[BFerguson]

In his introduction to Pappy 20, he said that their wheated recipe bourbon "starts off it's life as a Weller 7 year old,

Uhh....Not anymore at 7yr for Weller.

Just can't trust anything that he says.......

B

[White Dog]

Uhh....Not anymore at 7yr for Weller.

Just can't trust anything that he says.......

B

I was thinking the same damn thing, but I'm trying to not start any trouble these days.

[BFerguson]

I was thinking the same damn thing, but I'm trying to not start any trouble these days.

it good to take turns with these sorts of things. Don't want any one person to have all the fun.

B

[Smithford]

"Oh no, you wine and beer guys, you don't WANT to taste this ROTGUT... it's AWFUL... here... we'll SAVE you from having to think about tasting it..."

LOL.

I will say this: There was a real mix of people at this tasting event. Many were complete bourbon novices, some had tried a few bourbons and liked them, but wanted to try more. And then there was me (and the other 5 enthusiasts) . There were mixed (mostly positive) reactions to all of the different samples (BT, 1792, ER 10, Blanton's Gold). But everyone at my table loved the Pappy 20. And you could hear the crowd's reaction too - quiet, surprised happy enthusiasm.

I've always had a small nagging doubt that the whole Pappy phenomenon was only partly about the whiskey. The rest being a lot of hype and mystique. But it seems not. It really is damn fine whiskey.

The bad news? 100 new Pappy converts.